What is a malted beverage

Table of Contents Show

What's a Malted Beverage?
Malt Beverages and Blood Pressure
Where did malt beverages originate?
What is the nutritional value of malt beverages?
Are beers and malt beverages the same?
How do I know which malt beverage is right for me?
Are there non-alcoholic malt beverages?
How do I store malt beverages?
Where can you buy malt beverages?

Excessive consumption of alcoholic malt beverages may increase your blood pressure.

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Malt beverages, including some beers and liquors, are sometimes touted as nutritious. But can they also cause high blood pressure and other dangerous conditions? Does drinking in moderation change the equation? Here's what you should know.

What's a Malted Beverage?

According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a malt beverage is a fermented drink made with malted barley and hops. Barley is a grain, while hops is a flower with a bitter flavor boost. Not all beers are malted beverages as they may instead use other grains in place of barley, but many beers are malted.

When many people think of malt beverages, what comes to mind is malt liquor — the popular and inexpensive 40-ounce, high-alcohol lager beer. According to the University of Minnesota Alcohol Epidemiology Program, malt liquor usually has a higher alcohol content (6 to 10 percent) than the average beer.

And according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a standard alcoholic drink has about 14 grams of alcohol, which is found in 12 ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol) but in only 8.5 ounces of malt liquor (9 percent alcohol), due to its higher alcohol content.

But there are also non-alcoholic malted drinks, which are sometimes touted as being healthy. Most of the nutrients in malt beverages stem from carbs — they are low in fat, salt, protein and fiber — and not a significant source of most vitamins and minerals, with the exception of niacin, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium and a few B vitamins, according to the USDA. Should you include them as part of a nutritious diet though? Probably not.

"Malted beverages may have certain benefits, including being a source of certain vitamins, although they should not be used as a replacement for primary sources of nutrition," says Scott Krakower, DO, a psychiatrist at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York, and a substance abuse treatment expert specializing in teens and young adults.

Malt Beverages and Blood Pressure

It makes sense that malt beverages shouldn't be the focus of your diet, but does that mean they can cause health problems? That depends.

"Malted beverages can cause increases in blood pressure, especially those with alcoholic content," Dr. Krakower says. "This may depend on the frequency of use. Regular or binge drinkers of alcoholic beverages can show signs of elevated blood pressure and other cardiac conditions."

It's important to make a distinction, however, between excessive alcohol consumption and moderate alcohol consumption, the latter of which observational studies have associated with some important health benefits. Those include blood pressure-related benefits. According to the Cleveland Clinic, drinking in moderation can lower blood pressure by 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury.

Moreover, consuming light to moderate amounts of alcohol (one drink a day for women and one to two drinks a day for men) decreases the risks for total mortality, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, diabetes and stroke, according to a March 2014 review in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The Linus Pauling Institute describes the relationship between drinking alcohol and mortality as "J-shaped." In other words, when looking at a graph with alcohol abstinence on the left and heavy drinking on the right, you can see the rapid increase in potentially fatal health problems the more a person drinks.

Due to the fact that alcohol consumption can be either beneficial or detrimental, the Institute recommends that, in consultation with your doctor, you determine how much or if you should drink based on a combination of scientific evidence and individual factors.

In general, the Cleveland Clinic and many other experts recommend that, to realize health benefits, men consume no more than two drinks a day while women should only consume one drink a day.

As for non-alcoholic malt beverages, Dr. Krakower says that while they are not directly correlated to high blood pressure, "people should be mindful of their caloric and carbohydrate intake, as excessive consumption may result in unwanted weight gain and other medical comorbidities."

Malt beverages are fermented drinks made primarily from the grain of the barley plant, which undergoes a process of malting before it is turned into a drink. Malting involves steeping, germinating, and drying grain to turn it into a malt base. Malt beverages can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic based on the level of fermentation.

Beer is by far the most common beverage made out of malt. However, the “malt beverages” sector comprises other products that use a malt base with natural or artificial flavors added to give them a profile distinct from beer in terms of taste, smell, and body. Drinks with added flavors are known as flavored malt beverages (FMBs), “malternatives,” or “alcopops,” so look out for those descriptors. Some manufacturers brand malt beverages as “flavored beer,” sometimes making product categorization confusing for consumers.

Where did malt beverages originate?

Fermented drinks made with malt have a long and rich history. Malted grains were used in alcoholic beverages in ancient Egypt, Sumer, and China. This tradition was carried on from Egypt to the Roman Empire, so beer and malt beverage traditions developed and spread throughout Europe. Malt is a versatile base not only for alcoholic beverages but also as a sweetener for baking and cooking. The malting process allows the sugars from the grain to shine and gain complexity, adding to the malt base’s versatility.

What is the nutritional value of malt beverages?

Since ancient times, malt has been used as a source of concentrated energy and flavor. Grains are a natural source of vitamins and minerals. In the United States, malt beverages must contain 25% malt and at least 7.5lbs of hops per 100 barrels of liquid.

Malt contains fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6. Malt also contains protein, so non-alcoholic malt beverages are an excellent post-workout pick-me-up, as they help you both hydrate and replenish the proteins that build muscles.

Are beers and malt beverages the same?

Most beers are a type of malt beverage, but not all malt beverages are beer. Most beers use barley as a prime ingredient, but there are other varieties derived from grains such as wheat (like in white beer, made primarily in Belgium), rice (a classic in Japan), and sorghum, which is used for gluten-free beer varieties.

How do I know which malt beverage is right for me?

The malt beverage market is experiencing exponential growth, and there is an increasing number of local and international options in the market. Because the palette of natural and artificial flavors is so diverse, the best way to choose what is right for you is to think of what your preferences are when it comes to wine (are you a sweet or dry person?), beer (do you prefer lighter varieties, IPAs with lots of hops, or thick stouts?) and even soda (are you more cola or lemon?).

The classics are a good way to start, however, new options are popping up all over the globe, and Instacart provides a great departing point for your malt beverage adventures.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for malt beverages via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products.

Are there non-alcoholic malt beverages?

Some malt beverages give you the fizziness and flavor of a typical malt beverage but don’t contain alcohol. Some classic beer manufacturers have started to offer malt beverages as a non-alcoholic option to beer.

How do I store malt beverages?

Store malt beverages just like you would store beer. Direct sunlight or sudden temperature changes can affect the flavor profile over time, so a dark, dry space such as the bottom of your pantry. Once you are ready to enjoy them, stick them in the fridge. But follow this rule: as with beer, once cold, a malt beverage should stay cold. If you let it go to room temperature, the flavor will be “burnt,” It can also become flat.